Cattle stanchion



Dec. 3, 1968 T. MODIG ETAL 3,413,959

CATTLE STANCHION Filed Oct. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTORS: 7T MOdLj E. MOdL gwElAj-Oygren miw hyg' AT OYLNE5 Dec. 3, 1963 MQDK; ETAL 3,413,959 CATTLE STANCHION Filed Oct. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GE,

INVENTORS: T Neal. (.9, E. Nocli q M4 EALOYgren United States Patent 3,413,959 CATTLE STAN CHION Torsten Modig, Eric Modig, and Erik Alfons Lofgren, all of Box 139, Umea, Sweden Filed Oct. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 584,184 3 Claims. (Cl. 119-148) This invention relates to a device for fastening cattle to feeding grates.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a binding device which can be used with cattle of any size, including cows.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a binding device of this type which will also permit the feeding of cows from a low-placed feeding passage and will provide to the cows a limited freedom of movement so that they can rise and that manure can drop down upon a chute grate in so-called short-boxes.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a binding device of this type which makes it possible for one man to fasten a great number of cows.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention a feeding grate is combined with an adjustable device that serves as a neck yoke for the cow, whereby the cow can freely move its neck between the upper vertical branches of the yoke. Below these upper vertical branches is a U-shaped loop, the horizontal branches of which are journalled in the feeding grate, so that the loop or axle in combination with the neck yoke can lock the cow in one position which simultaneously allowing it a limited freedom of movement in a lying or standing position.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the same device.

In the drawings a diagrammatically shown and lowplaced feed trough is fastened to the feeding grate 11, the upper horizontal portion 12 of which is provided with a U-shaped, swingable loop 13. The loop 13 is provided with holes receiving a rod 14. The end of the rod 14 facing the box is provided with a similar U-shaped loop 15 having holes through which the upper portion of the neck yoke 16 is inserted. The yoke 16 is located substantially inside the feeding grate and consists of a narrower upper portion 16a intended to embrace the cows neck and a wider lower portion the vertical branch ends 16b of which can be inserted by projections 17 into holes 18 in holders 19 provided on both inner sides of the feeding gate. These lower branch ends of the yoke 16 are flush with or nearly extend to the box fioor, and are turnable, while the position of the upper yoke portion is variable by means of the loop fitting described above. Since each holder 19 has a vertical row of holes 18, the yoke 16 is also adjustable in the vertical direction, and can further-more be fixed in any desired angle by means of set screws 20 and 21 which are screwed in the loops 13 and 15, respectively.

3,413,959 Patented Dec. 3, 1968 ice Extending in the longitudinal direction of the feeding grate below the vertical upper branches of the neck yoke 16 and above its lower branches is an axle 22, which in the embodiment shown has the shape of an inverted U having horizontal branch ends pivoted to the feeding grate. The relative shapes of the axle 22 and the neck yoke 16 depend on each other, namely, in the closed position the device is designed so that the distance A does not permit the cow to move its head to any substantial extent in the lateral direction of the box. One end portion of the axle 22 can be actuated by a crank 25 having a stop 23, by means of which the axle can be swiftly turned into a closed position or an open position. In FIG. 2 the open position has been indicated by broken lines.

As indicated in FIG. 2 one end portion of the axle 22 may be rotatably connected with a corresponding axle in an adjacent box by means of a cardan joint 24. In this manner a great number of cows can be simultaneously effectively secured in their places. The device of the present invention permits a cow to lie down with the feeding passage within reach, and to stand up.

It is apparent that the axle or loop 22 may have other shapes than that shown in the drawing, while the same result will be obtained. Thus the axle may be U-shaped or have the shape of an inverted T. It is essential, however, that the branch ends of the axle be pivoted to the feeding grate.

It is further apparent that other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for fastening cattle, comprising in combination with a feeding grate having vertical posts and a transverse bar carried by said posts, a neck yoke having upper vertical branches adapted to receive the neck of an animal and lower vertical branches which are more widely spaced than said upper branches, means swingably connecting said upper branches to said bar, means pivotally connecting said lower branches to said posts, and a U-shaped axle having horizontal ends pivoted to said posts and located below said upper branches, said neck yoke and said axle securing said animal while allowing it a limited freedom of movement in a lying position and an upright position.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, comprising a crank located outside of said feeding grate and connected with said axle for actuating said axle.

3. At least two devices in accordance with claim 1, comprising a cardan joint interconnecting the axles of the two devices.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,720 10/1901 Reid 119-147 1,099,623 6/1914 Sletten 119148 1,276,449 8/ 1918 Terwilliger 119147 2,779,312 l/1957 Girton 119148 X 2,815,735 12/1957 Collier 1l9l47 3,122,128 2/1964 Prentice 11927 3,166,045 1/1965 Bessette 119-27 ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR FASTENING CATTLE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION WITH A FEEDING GRATE HAVING VERTICAL POSTS AND A TRANSVERSE BAR CARRIED BY SAID POSTS, A NECK YOKE HAVING UPPER VERTICAL BRANCHES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE NECK OF AN ANIMAL AND LOWER VERTICAL BRANCHES WHICH ARE MORE WIDELY SPACED THAN SAID UPPER BRANCHES, MEANS SWINGABLY CONNECTING SAID UPPER BRANCHES TO SAID BAR, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID LOWER BRANCHES TO SAID POSTS, AND A U-SHAPED AXLE HAVING HORIZONTAL ENDS PIVOTED TO SAID POSTS AND LOCATED BELOW SAID UPPER BRANCHES, SAID NECK YOKD AND SAID AXLE SECURING SAID ANIMAL WHILE ALLOWING 